Vestas closed the UK's only wind turbine blade factories, on the Isle of Wight, in August 2009. Workers occupied the factory, then picketed. This blog is a history of that dispute and of the ongoing campaign for green jobs.

Green jobs? Massive offshore wind expansion?

Two wind-related stories in the Guardian this week. One about renewable energy manfacturers moaning that expansion of renewables is not benefiting UK business – where are all the green jobs that the government promised?

And another outlining the PM’s announcement of some massive offshore wind projects. Some isses to discuss: will they happen? Are they coming too late? How much do we care whether they are built in the UK?

The closure of Vestas on the Isle of Wight gets a mention in the first – although not the campaign to keep the factory open. In the second story, the Grauniad makes a classic error and calls Vestas a Dutch company. Well, Danish, Dutch… they’re all foreign, aren’t they?!

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What we're fighting for

Vestas Blades UK made production workers at their factories on the Isle of Wight redundant on 12 August 2009. More than 500 jobs were lost. Many more jobs that depend on Vestas will follow. This makes no sense from a green or a labour perspective!

At the same time, the government announced a major expansion of renewable energy including wind power. We are calling on the government to intervene to save jobs at companies like Vestas - through nationalisation if that is what it takes - to show that it is serious about saving the planet.

Actions & meetings

Wednesday 17 February

NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT 7pm, Save Our Services public meeting, called by Unison, but open to all who want to campaign against the proposed cuts to council and all jobs and services. Venue: Hunnyhill Room, The Riverside Centre, The Quay, Newport, Isle of Wight.